West Texas officials indicted in whistle-blowing nurses case

Published 10:29 am, Friday, January 14, 2011

KERMIT — Two top officials from a West Texas county have been indicted on charges stemming from the criminal prosecution of two whistle-blowing nurses.

Winkler County Sheriff Robert Roberts and County Attorney Scott Tidwell were each indicted Thursday on two counts of misuse of official information, two counts of retaliation and two counts of official oppression. Misuse of official information and retaliation are third-degree felonies. Official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor.

Winkler County Memorial Hospital nurses Anne Mitchell and Vickilyn Galle were prosecuted on misuse of information charges after they complained anonymously to state regulators about physician Rolando Arafiles. A jury acquitted Mitchell last February. The charges against Galle were dropped.